2012 Summer Olympics: Men’s 200m Odds & Predictions

by Scott Burgess on Monday, August 6th, 2012

Usain Bolt is fresh off his Men’s 100m gold medal win at the 2012 Summer Olympics and he now sets his sights on the Men’s 200m. Qualifying begins Monday August 7th and the final goes on Thursday. Olympic oddsmakers have Usain Bolt listed as 1/5 odds favorite to win gold in the Men’s 200m. Let’s take a look at who can challenge Bolt. Be sure to make your Men’s 200m predictions before they take off.

Usain Bolt (JAM) 1/5 – hopes to become the first man to win two 200m golds and position himself as unquestionably the greatest sprinter in history. Bolt became the only man to cross the line first in two 100m finals, putting him notionally ahead of Carl Lewis, who won in 1984 and was awarded gold in 1988 after the disqualification of Ben Johnson.

In Beijing, Bolt became the ninth man to complete the 100m/200m double, both titles coming in world record time, and he knows exactly what is at stake now. “I’m never going to say that I’m the greatest until I’ve run my 200 metres,” he said soon after his 9.63 victory on Sunday, the second-fastest 100m of all time. “It was all about this, to defend my titles, because this is what’s going to make me a legend.”

Yohan Blake (JAM) 7/2 – will definitely take advantage of his situation the way he took advantage last year when Bolt made a false start in the World Championships and lost his two titles to him. Blake will be definitely his main rival, Usain Bolt lost both 100m and 200m to him during their Olympic trials in Jamaica. Defending his titles here might be tricky, but anything is possible when you are still the fastest man on earth.

Wallace Spearmon Jr (USA) 25/1 – looks to be a battle for bronze. He seems to be a better bet than the third of the Jamaicans Warren Weir. The 27-year-old American – a three-time world minor medallist over the distance – will also be seeking to make up for the disappointment of being disqualified from third four years ago after stepping into another lane. “You look back on Beijing – what place is a disqualification?” he said. “It’s like I didn’t even race. I’m ready to get this going and go on to redemption. “No more stepping on lines. No sobriety tests. I’m staying in my lane.”

The Bottom Line: Bolt isn’t going to let gold slip through his fingers. The only way Bolt losses is if he has a false start or injury. Want to dominate the books this season with some of the best Summer Olympic Picks experts in the business? Then sign up right now and get Summer Olympic Picks Free!